Summer 2013 Has Plenty of Movies for Grownups

These blockbusters and small films look worthy of your money, experience and time

There are lots of choices for grownup moviegoers this season in both the blockbuster "tentpoles" like June's Man of Steel, designed to appeal to a mass market and make lots of money, and in the smaller "tadpoles," like Woody Allen's latest, Blue Jasmine, focused on a more targeted movie fan.

So don't surrender the theater to youngsters for the next three months. If you're selective about which blockbusters you choose and discerning about the small films, you may just have a lot of fun. Here, by release date, a look at those in both categories we think have special appeal to the 50-plus audience.

(When an AARP critic sees any of these releases we'll provide a link to the film's review.)

The 'Tentpoles' (aka: The Big Flicks and Blockbusters)

Morgan Freeman plays cards. — Summit Entertainment

Now You See Me

Do you feel bad when you root for the "crooks" in caper movies? In this one Harrelson and a young crew play Vegas magicians who steal from big, bad banks and shower the proceeds on their audiences. In other words, this time it's hard to tell who the real crooks are. We also get incomparable actors Freeman and Caine in this how-did-they-do-it?

The Internship

Downsized by the economy, Vaughn and Wilson are two middle-age guys who have to reimagine themselves. It's an unfortunately resonant theme. But when these two turn up as interns at Google, and with the whole Wedding Crashers team back, the result should be both hilarious and poignant.

Henry Cavill dons Superman's cape. — Clay Enos

Man of Steel

Those of us who remember 1950s Superman George Reeves in tights basically own this franchise. It's up to us to judge whether the next generation is doing Superman justice with this remake. It's a different telling of Clark Kent's story, that's for sure, but from what we've seen, we can say at least they've got the flying stuff right.

Sulley (the tall blue guy) and Mike (the green fellow with one head, one eye) return. — Disney/Pixar

Monsters University

The smartest 'toons come from Disney/Pixar and with a great returning veteran voice cast this third film in the Monsters franchise is a slam-dunk favorite flick to catch with the kids in your life.

Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock. — Twentieth Century Fox Films

The Heat

Stars: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthyOpened: June 28

Nothing makes us feel better about being in our 50s than knowing that, come next year, Sandra Bullock will be, too. She’s paired in this buddy cop movie with the funniest woman on screen today. (If you don’t believe us, check out McCarthy’s improvised riff during the closing credits of This is 40.)

Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer. — Disney

The Lone Ranger

Like Superman, boomers own The Lone Ranger, and no one messes with him without our tacit approval. Frankly, the idea of freshly minted 50-year-old Johnny Depp playing Tonto is pretty irresistible, with apologies to Jay Silverheels, who played him in the long-running TV series.

Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds. — Universal Pictures

R.I.P.D.

Here's a case of blind trust in a grownup star's choices: The concept of dead cops who staff a police force from the Hereafter (the Rest In Peace Department) sounds infinitely skippable, but the presence of Jeff Bridges has us giving this movie the benefit of the doubt. Don't let us down, dude.

Red 2

The original Red two years ago sparked a Hollywood revolution: Studios discovered that an action flick featuring older stars could kick butt at the box office with both kids and grownups. Willis and his friends are back for another pull of the trigger. Go get 'em, guys.

Paranoia

Stars: Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman
Opens: August 16

Ford and Oldman last tangled onscreen in 1997 in Air Force One ("Get off of my plane!!!"). Now they play rivals in a tale of corporate corruption. It's directed by Robert Luketic, who made two of our favorite films you've never seen, 21 (with Kevin Spacey) and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!